Iranian Journal of Forensic Medicine
Year:2020 | Volume:26 | Issue:4 (95)|Papers Count:9

Introduction: Novichoks is considered the fourth generation of chemical weapons and nerve agents (NA) category. NAs were produced and developed during the Cold War in the (former) Soviet Union. Due to the confidentiality of these agents' manufacturing processes, there is little information about these compounds' properties. Like other NA, Novichoks are organophosphorus compounds that have non-competitive and irreversible inhibitory effects on the Acetylcholinesterase. Preliminary data described a high potency as 5-8 times more than VX for these agents. Although these compounds have not yet been used as chemical weapons on battlefields, the use of these agents in chemical terrorist attacks in recent years has made it necessary for medical professionals to become more familiar with the dangers and toxicological aspects of these agents. In addition to reviewing the history of development and production, chemical structure, mechanism of action, toxicokinetics, and toxicology of these agents, the latest information on of diagnosis and treatment of poisoning with these agents will be reviewed. Conclusion: Contrary to the initial data, it seems that the poisoning caused by Novichok is like other organophosphate agents and can be managed successfully by performing rapid and appropriate treatment measures. Due to the global threat of terrorist incidents with these agents, the medical team is familiar with these poisons for optimal diagnosis and treatment of victims.

Aims: Domestic violence against women is a public health problem and a clear example of human rights abuses in all societies, races, ethnicities and religions, with approximately 35% of women worldwide experiencing it at least once in their lifetime. The aim of this study was to identify the psychological characteristics of abused women through their lived experiences. Instrument & Methods: This research was done by qualitative research method and phenomenological design. Participants included 12 abused women who had referred to the Forensic Medicine Center of Bojnourd in the winter of 2018 to complain about their husbands being beaten and injured. These individuals were selected by purposive sampling method and after completing the questionnaire of violence and assuring that violence had taken place, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with them. Data analysis was performed based on the steps of Dickelman analysis method. Findings: In total, 5 main categories, 17 concepts and 173 basic codes were obtained. Woman Surrender Syndrome, Fear of Social Stigma, Sexual Problems and Conflicts, Low Self-Esteem and Learned Helplessness were extracted as the main categories of this study. Conclusion: From the women's point of view, the presence of some psychological characteristics in them can be a predictor and perpetuator of the phenomenon of domestic violence against them. Surrender woman syndrome, fear of social stigma, sexual problems and conflicts, low self-esteem and learned helplessness can explain the violence and its persistence in these women.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a heterogeneous disorder that affects people at risk for trauma. Although its diagnostic features have been reclassified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version 5 (DSM-5), the disorder is characterized by excessive and unwanted trauma reminders as well as the avoidance of trauma reminders. Cognitive patterns and negative moods of this heterogeneity indicate multiple neurological mechanisms in the context of PTSD. Research over the past few decades has shown several potential ways to identify diagnostic biomarkers for PTSD. These include monoadrenergic transmission systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), metabolic, hormonal pathways, inflammatory mechanisms, psychophysiological reactions, and cerebral neural circuits. The present study presents the research literature concerning the most promising biomarkers in diagnosing PTSD with special emphasis on the interaction between neurological effects on disease risk and progression of symptoms. Such biomarkers are likely to be identified by multidimensional models derived from comprehensive descriptions of molecular, neurological, behavioral, and clinical phenotypes. Conclusion: Post-traumatic stress disorder biomarkers can provide promising horizons for early diagnosis and treatment of the disorder and provide clinicians with tools to make more accurate diagnoses of the disorder. Also, the existing research literature in this field can serve the biological contexts related to PTSD symptoms and future studies' goals.

Introduction: The cochlea is a part of the inner ear in terms of anatomy, and it is a part of the sensory mechanism in function. The cochlear implant is usually done on people, especially children, who suffer intensely from sensory-neural hearing loss and those who cannot use hearing aids. By cochlear implants, the hearing ability will return to them. Thousands of people in Iran have already done the cochlear implant. Based on the span of cochlear implants and the number of people who have done this surgery, and the lack of law in this field, the hearing system-related crimes about these people have not been checked legally. Conclusion: According to the definition of an organ, the cochlea is considered an independent organ due to its function. In a cochlear implant, in contrast with a cochlear transplant, the implantation of non-biological tissues or organs is performed, whose legal effect of crime is different with organ transplant. Since the cochlear implant device does not have biological life, there is no infinite analogy between the criminal and the victim's ear, and the verdict is similar. According to the fact that after the implant surgery, the hearing ability of the victim will return to its normal form if the crime happens, based on the articles 570, 566, and 682 of the Islamic penal code and according to the held referendum, heavy damages including financial guarantee, compensation of hearing benefit, Arsh of felony and Arsh of loss of function are set as punishment.

Aims Craniofacial measurements are one of the important parts of anthropology that determine the morphological features of the face and head. Considering the importance and position of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the ethnic diversity of its students, the aim of this study is to measure the different variables of head, face and stature of medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and to investigate the relationship between these variables. Methods In the present study, the variables of skull length, skull width and skull height were measured in 200 medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. SPSS 16 software was used for statistical analysis. The P values less than 0. 05 were considered statistically significant. Findings The variables of stature (P= 0. 0001), skull length (P= 0. 0001) and skull height (P = 0. 044) showed significant differences between the two genders, but there was no significant difference in skull width between males and females (P= 0. 865). According to the linear regression, there was a significant relationship between stature and cranial length ((P= 0. 0001), (P= 0. 016)) and also between stature and cranial height ((P= 0. 0001), (P= 0. 0001)) in all cases and in male subjects. In addition, there was a relation between stature and cranial width in female subjects (P= 0. 013). Conclusion The existence of significant relationships between different variables of the cranium and stature makes it possible to estimate stature based on these variables.

Aims Motorcycle-related traffic accidents are a major public health problem and one of the leading causes of disability and death in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of fatal traffic accidents in Iranian motorcyclists in 2017. Instrument & Methods This cross-sectional study was performed using the Forensic Medicine Organization’ s available data on Iranian motorcyclists who suffered traffic accidents in 2017 and lost their lives. Data were collected using a checklist and analyzed in SPSS 25 and GraphPad Prism 8 software using one-way analysis of variance and independent t-test. Findings During 2017, 3862 people died due to motorcycle accidents, of which 3704 (95. 9%) were men and 158 (4. 1%) were women. The highest mortality rate was observed in 18-24 years with 1071 cases (27. 8%). Most victims died in hospital (52. 7%) due to head injuries (53. 6%). The mortality rate was higher in people with the diploma and less (92. 4%) and self-employed (39. 7%). The main mechanism of motorcycle accidents was the collision with moving vehicles (79. 5%). Among the dead, 78. 4% were drivers, and 20. 3% were passengers. Also, most accidents (48%) occurred on suburban roads. Conclusion The death rate due to motorcycle accidents in Iran on suburban roads and young age groups is high, and head injuries cause the death of most of the dead.

Aims The progress of any organization depends on having healthy and efficient human resources. This study aimed to the relationship between job burnout, Distress Tolerance, and Dimensions of meta-emotion in Forensic Medicine employees. Instrument & Methods This is a descriptive study involving 180 (56 women and 124 men) employees in the Forensic Medicine Department of Mashhad in 2020, selected by available sampling. After fulfilling the research conditions (more than one year of work experience, signing a written consent to participate in research, and have at least a diploma). Forty-five employees (26 women and 19 men) participated in the study. Data was collected by “ Demographic Data” , “ Burnout Inventory” , “ Distress Tolerance” , and “ Positive Metacognitions and Positive Meta-Emotions” questionnaires. Data were analyzed in SPSS-21 software by T-test. Findings The mean score of emotional exhaustion was (2. 67± 1. 55), depersonalization was (1. 52± 1. 59), and the personality depersonalization respectively (2. 92± 1. 19), which indicated moderate burnout in emotional exhaustion and high burnout in lack of personal accomplishment. The correlation coefficient of metacognition and metaemotional dimensions and job burnout was-0. 649 and had a significant and inverse relationship (p=0. 009). Also, the correlation coefficient of stress tolerance and burnout was-0. 684, which showed a significant and inverse relationship between these two variables (p=0. 005). Conclusion Considering the effect of burnout on job performance and its relationship with stress tolerance and dimensions of meta-emotion, the importance of reducing environmental stressors by organizing job factors, as well as psychological skills training, should be considered.

Aims Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that does not block nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the sense of an antagonist but acts as a stimulant and agonist for this receptor. In this study, a case of suicide with injectable imidacloprid was reported. Patient & Methods At the scene of the death of a 24-year-old woman, she was lying on the ground in front of the first step of the house. His death was confirmed by the emergency services, and a syringe impregnated with poison and several cans of agricultural poison were discovered and handed over to the city’ s intelligence agents. Findings In the physical examination and legal autopsy, the corpse bruise was naturally colored in the trunk’ s posterior areas, and the corpse was frozen. Cyanosis of the lips, nails, and subcutaneous injection site was evident outside the right umbilicus and behind the left hand. Necropsy findings of pulmonary edema and brief fluid in both pleural spaces showed a total of about 20 ml. Vitreous fluid, blood, bile, liver, kidney, stomach contents, and tissue of the injection site were sampled for toxicological tests. Conclusion Many cases of acute imidacloprid poisoning occur with mild symptoms, the most common of which are gastrointestinal and neurological manifestations, and the mortality rate is low. If you take too much of this toxin, the initial symptoms will appear as cardiovascular and central nervous system effects, eventually leading to death. Careful monitoring of acute patients exposed to imidacloprid toxin who present with these symptoms is essential.